Kastori Tribulations (The Kastori Chronicles Book 3) (13 page)

On the way over, he saw charred, black grass and recognized it as the remains of the pyre his father was burned at. Aside from his initial glance, he ignored it and kept walking.
There is no room for dwelling on sad events or people right now. Get to the council.

Once he got past the remains, he used teleport spells to advance faster to the outpost. He reached the outpost just a few hours before the sunset, and Typhos waited patiently, alone, for his target to come by.

Finally, he saw the man in black robes with a mix of brown and silver hair approaching. Typhos rose, put on his most authentic-looking fake smile, and approached the councilor.

“Typhos!” Ramadus exclaimed. “I never expected to find a boy like you out here!”

“I’m full of surprises,” Typhos said with a laugh that masked a sneer he so desperately wanted to pull out. “I actually wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Oh, me? I’m just a councilor of black magic, no one important,” Ramadus said, laughing at his own joke.

Hilarious.

“Yes, but I disagree, I think you are very, very important,” Typhos said. “See, you have a voice on the council, and I want you to use that voice to help the chief.”

“Oh, gosh, her, I’m so sorry, Typhos. I can’t even imagine—”

Typhos held up his hand, and Ramadus looked at him with a hurt expression.

“Sorry, nothing against you, I’ve just heard too many people wish me well that it inflames the pain more than it helps dull it at this point.”

Ramadus’ tension dropped, and the councilor smiled as he awaited more words from the boy.

“My mother is in a terrible state right now, Ramadus, and it seems like the only time she is happy is when I’m around her.”

“Really?” Ramadus said in wonderment.

“Yes,” Typhos said, conveniently ignoring the night before. “Family has a way of keeping her grounded and in reality, instead of letting her mind drift off to fantasy worlds where Ada… my father still ‘lives.’ I see this, I’ve heard it, and I know it. I also know as a result that when she’s with you guys, she doesn’t do well listening.”

“So true, so so true.”

“Well, I would like that to not be true as much as you would, Ramadus. I would like to ask if you would support me being with her on the council so that she can be in a better state of mind while she guides you.”

And, you know, lets me see how the council works from the inside.

“It will make her better?”

Typhos nodded confidently.

“Sign me up then!” Ramadus said, patting the arm of Typhos hard. “Anything to make your mother better!”

That’s it?

That’s kind of disappointing. I was hoping for more of a test. Pagus could’ve persuaded him ten years ago.

“Thank you, Ramadus,” Typhos said, shaking his hand aggressively. “I appreciate your support. Fargus and Garron are also on board.”

“Fargus, too? Wow, that’s incredible!”

It is, Ramadus. It is.

How did you ever become a member of the council again?

Typhos felt so floored by how easy it was, he scrambled to come up with something else to do.
Get the last member, I guess. Hope they are on board.

Amelia. She’s a mom. She’ll understand.

“Well, you know how it is, Ramadus. Anyways, I must be going, but I appreciate your support!”

“Of course, buddy! Anything for the council! Good luck!”

I won’t ever need luck as long as I have fools like yourself around, Ramadus.

18

The second that Ramadus turned around, Typhos had to stop himself from laughing at the foolish councilor. He did so by moving west, just south of where he had tested his magic, to the beach outpost where his last target would live.

Amelia. The youngest of the councilors, a woman in her late thirties—and also one with a son.
She would feel the pain better than anyone. She, too, would want the support of her son.
If she did not work, Typhos thought he would go to Cleatra and Lyos, though both had extreme conservative tendencies and could probably not be persuaded.
Possible with me, though.

He arrived at the tent with the sky having turned to night. Typhos considered leaving since many of the fires around the area had been extinguished. He walked once around the area, as if going for a stroll, and noticed more than a few pair of eyes on him.

“Typhos?”

The soft, gentle voice of Amelia grabbed Typhos’ attention immediately. He whirled around and saw her just a couple of feet away.

“Amelia,” he said, bowing politely, turning the manners up to the highest degree he could. “How are you?”

“I’m good, but I was wondering the same question about you. I shudder just thinking about the things you’ve gone through.”

“I appreciate that,” he said. “I actually wanted to talk to you about that. Can we get some privacy?”

She looked out toward the crashing waves of the ocean and nodded her head toward the gentle sounds. Typhos accepted her invitation, and the two walked side-by-side, Typhos maintaining a respectful and courteous distance from her. She seemed as open as the boy had hoped and even provided the unexpected benefit of calming his nerves after his encounter with Ramadus.

At the beach, the waves barely crested, and only the sound of water running over sand filled their ears. It sounded more like Lake Carsius north of Mount Ardor than it did the ocean.

“What did you want to talk about, Typhos?”

“My mother,” Typhos said, not wanting to waste anytime. “I’m sure you see that she is not well.”

“My heart trembles for her. I feel pain just trying to imagine losing Lycos.”

“Don’t,” Typhos cooed. “Death is bad enough in reality. We don’t need to recreate it any further. But yes, my mother is not well, and I am not well. But the one time that both of us are truly well is when we are both together. We are a family, a family that functions best not separated by work and school, but by being in the same place. I know, Councilor—”

“Amelia,” she said with a friendly smile. “Just Amelia.”

“Sorry, it’s just…” Typhos said, feigning discomfort with ignoring titles. “OK, Amelia, I know it’s tradition and the rules that only those who are councilors are allowed to be in those meetings, but my Mom desperately needs help. You can see it and relate better than anyone on that council, even Cleatra. I believe I can provide that help she needs if you let me come and be with her during the day.”

Typhos waited for the bombshell statement to shock Amelia and draw a profoundly disturbed look on her face. But even through the darkness of the sky, he could see the only other mother on the court had no reaction. In fact, her eyes seemed more sympathetic than before. The boy opened his mouth to speak but, sensing that he had Amelia on his side, shut up before he hurt himself.

“And does anyone else support you?”

“In fact, yes. Garron, Ramadus, and… Fargus, they all said they support me.”

I didn’t need to lie to her. You fool. You better hope it doesn’t come out.

“Fargus, of all people. I guess he sees it the way I do.”

Typhos put his hand over his mouth to avoid Amelia seeing the huge grin forming.

“I am very close with my son, much as you and Aida are,” she said.
Sure are. I’ll agree
. “And if something were to happen to my husband, I would hope we would always be there for each other. You have my support, Typhos. It will need to go to a vote, but it sounds like you already have that vote won.”

“I do,” he said. “Councilor, Amelia, thank you so much. I very much appreciate you spending the time out here with me.”

“You’re welcome, Typhos. All I ask is that when you get the things you want, if one of us is in a position of need, that you meet that need.”

When. See, this woman knows. She doesn’t play coy games like when or whatever. She will help more someday.

“I will, I promise,” Typhos said.

“Good,” Amelia said. “You should get going now. Your mother will wonder if you got lost ursus hunting.”

“I understand, thank you.”

He gave one last bow and skirted across the plains with teleportation. He stuck to the beach, skipping past much of the forest, as he metaphorically—and, in certain spots, literally—danced in celebration, his thoughts now on a perpetual upbeat cycle.

I’ll get on the council. I’ll see how the council works. I’ll actually become a councilor. Then I’ll become chief, and then… nothing can stop me then. I’ll become the greatest Kastori that ever lived. The greatest. Ever.

Just have to make sure Fargus doesn’t speak out. If he doesn’t go first when we discuss, he won’t say anything. I think.

He reached home about an hour later and found Garron and his mother waiting for him at the top of the peak.

“Typhos!” Aida exclaimed, worry evident in her voice.

“We were wondering about you, why you went where you did,” Garron said.
Mom sensed me. I guess there are worse people to do so.
“You good?”

“Yeah,” Typhos said. “Sorry. I was just talking to different councilors. I got four to say yes.”

Neither person said a word, which Typhos chalked up to being baffled. After several moments of silence, Typhos asked, “Well?”

“Well, I guess we’ll discuss it and set a time for a discussion,” Garron said, who looked to Typhos’ mother for confirmation. “The council will likely set a date a couple of days out. It’s just the way things are.”

How many times am I gonna have to hear that before I can make positive changes.

“In the meantime, Typhos, make sure you are still prepared,” Garron said. “Four of us said yes, but any of the four can change their mind. The only thing that is binding is the final vote.”

“I know, I know,” Typhos said, who just wished he could have the vote tonight.

“Good,” his mother said. “Come on, son, it’s bed time. Let’s go.”

Garron bid farewell, and Typhos joined his mother in falling asleep, finally able to rest peacefully knowing he had done the work to procure his ultimate dream.

19

Two days later, Typhos rose to see his mother sitting on the edge of her bed, looking impatiently at him. He blinked his eyes a few times, trying to shake off the fatigue that came from being unable to rest. His mind shifted to being on guard, given the look his mother had and the way she had acted the night before—a mix of tears, but also one of keeping her distance. It felt like she wanted to be as neutral as possible in this vote.

Which is dumb. I’m her son! Her only child!

“Typhos,” she said gently but firmly. “The council is ready to speak to you. We are ready to hold a discussion and vote on your request, and we will do so first thing today.”

An ominous feeling overcame the boy. No one had spoken to him the day before. Not even Garron had spoken to him, and Typhos knew that Garron had seen him while coming home. He mentally prepared to persuade each councilor, reminding them all that they had said they would support him.

All… but one.
Don’t bite me up there, Fargus.

“Well, no point in waiting any further, let’s go.”

As he stood up and his mother escorted him out, Typhos could see Aida did not seem pleased by the whole endeavor. He began to suspect once more that his mother did not want him there, and it infuriated him. He wanted to curse her out and tell her he was doing her a massive favor.
You won’t get better if you don’t want to. But I can make it so you’ll want to. Please, Mom. Stop acting like I’ve caused you so much trouble.

At the bottom of the hill, his mother turned and faced Typhos. Perhaps sensing the trouble going through his mind, his mother gently put her hands on his arms.

“You will have a chance to explain everything you have done,” she said, words that felt unusually precise.

“Thank you,” he said hesitantly.

“Close your eyes,” his mother said.

Typhos felt a rush going through his feet and coursing through his body.
Teleportation, but… unlike anything I’ve ever felt. Ever. So strong and fast.

The feeling reached his neck and his face. Seconds later, he felt a cold wind whip his face. He opened his eyes and saw a spiraling staircase in front of him, open sky to his right, and the mountain to his left. He also saw a dark cave, so dark that he could not make out any details inside, even with the sun shining directly in. Typhos took a step forward, but the unexpectedly firm grip of his mother held him in place.

“We go there to test ourselves against the power of the cave,” she said. “You will not need to go unless you become a councilor. Follow me.”

Typhos became even more curious and kept glancing over his shoulder as he climbed the stairs.

“Typhos,” his mother said, annoyed, and he quickened his pace.

He never stopped looking back, however, and noticed one disturbing fact in particular—there were no stairs leading up to the platform he had teleported on.
If so… and there’s no other… only teleportation can get you here. It’s a well-guarded magic zone.